Good Curing Practices for Brick Walls: Before and After Plastering
Curing is the process to maintain the moist conditions during construction work. The effectiveness of curing depends on the amount of hydration the cement gets. Some people think that as much as possible curing is good for the strength and durability of the structure, but that’s not true in every case. Improper curing may badly affect the strength of the structure, so you have to be sure about the exact curing practices before and after plastering of the brick walls.
Why is Curing Important?
Whenever cement is used for the binding purpose, curing has to be done, and when it comes to brick walls, curing is essential before and after plastering. It is important to follow right curing practice because:
- Curing helps to increase the strength of the brick wall
- Durability of the concrete improves with curing
- Curing helps in minimizing the cracks
- It prevents shrinkage of brick walls during drying
- Curing makes the walls water tight
Also read: Cement and Sand Ratio for Wall Plastering
Time to Start Curing
- Before plastering: The best time to start curing of brick walls is within 12 hours. The reason to wait for 12 hours is that the concrete mix takes at least 10 hours to set itself and you can start curing the wall after that period.
- After plastering: After the final stage of cement plastering is done, it is advised to start curing within 24 hours.
Duration for Curing
- Before plastering: The duration of curing completely depends on the quality of the mortar used for the binding purpose. In case you are using cement sand mortar, you should cure the brick wall for at least 7 days. And, if the brick wall is constructed with the help of rich mortar with the ratio of 1:4 then it is best to cure the wall for at least 10 days.
- After plastering: When the plastering is complete for the brick wall, it is advised to cure the wall for 7 days and keep the cement wet for total 15 days. It will help to improve the strength of the concrete and will eliminate any chances of cracks and shrinkage.
These are the ideal duration to improve the strength of a brick wall with curing. However, keep in mind that effective curing should stop faster dehydration of the cement. You can increase the curing time by one or two days in case of severe temperature conditions and higher grades of concrete.
Methods of Curing
Depending on the climatic conditions efforts should be made to stop drying of cement due tothe sun and faster wind. Therefore, experts suggest few methods of curing that work best for brick walls:
- Wet covering method:The wet covering method is suitable for curing vertical and sloping surfaces and works best for brick walls. The method allows keeping the walls wet throughout the curing period. In this method, curing is done with the help of wet gunny bags and hessian that is kept wet every time.
- Sprinkling method:For larger structures, it is not possible to provide a wet covering every Thus sprinkling method is another easy way to cure vertical surfaces like a brick wall. In this method, water is sprinkled on the surface within definite intervals. Though the method requires a larger quantity of water but it is the most suitable method for curing brick walls before and after plastering.
Curing must be done properly to ensure complete hydration of cement. Depending on the climatic conditions and nature of work curing practices usually change, so it is always better to have expert guidance to ensure good strength and durability of the structure.
It is commendable how knowledgeable you are in writing such beautiful articles on unspoken topics. Curing of brick walls especially for a person who is constructing a house for the first time is unknown territory. The process is not as difficult as it seems, all you need is to know the facts and be patient while you are doing it. This article gave me new insights that I am going to use for sure. Thanks a lot.
I have been looking online for brick curing methods before and after plastering but your blog has provided some great tips that I haven’t seen before. I am currently in the process of plastering my new extension and will definitely be using your tips to make sure the job is done properly. Thank you!
It is impressive how informed you are to write such lovely posts about taboo subjects. Curing brick walls is uncharted territory, particularly for someone building a house for the first time. Knowing the facts and exercising patience will help you complete the procedure more easily than it might initially appear to be. I learned fresh information from this article that I will definitely put to use. You’re welcome.